Summary:
Short Paper Book Review on Gaines, African Americans in Ghana
600-750 words, Times New Roman or Calibri, 12 Pt Font, Double Spaced
Summary:
Follow Prof. Davis Guideline for Book Reviews to construct a 600-750 Word report on Gaines, African Americans in Ghana
Make sure to answer these questions:
1. What is the historical question (issue), and what is the author’s approach (thesis)?
• Summarize the main points of the questions or theories the author is trying to address.
2. Where does the work fit the existing historiography (historical literature)?
• Usually, the author will address this in the first chapter or in the introduction.
• They will present the viewpoints articulated by other historians and explain where this work fits into the grand scheme of things.
3. What evidence does the author use to make the case?
• Are these primary or secondary sources?
o If primary sources, are they from archival collections or printed collections?
• Is there anything noteworthy about the quantity or quality of the evidence?
• Are these new records only available recently, or are they revisiting sources other scholars in different studies have utilized?
4. Briefly summarize the author’s findings, but DO NOT REPEAT THE BOOK.
• This summary can be accomplished by reviewing the significant findings in a brief paragraph dedicated to each. Why (or why not) is this finding important?
5. How well does the author make the case? Is it believable? Why or why not?
6. What (if any) are the book’s shortcomings?
• Are there major gaps or inconsistencies?
• Does the book address a new topic or present familiar information?
• Does the author overstretch the evidence or make sweeping generalizations?
• Is the work full of indecipherable jargon?
• Is it stridently ideological?
7. If citing portions of the text, include the appropriate citations.
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To receive a high grade, students must:
- Carefully using African Americans in Ghana to discuss the idea of diaspora and survival
- Developing a thesis that links directly to questions of prompt
- Analyzing the evidence provided by Gaines to produce arguments and ideas unique to the writing
- Respect to Spelling, Grammar, Citations
Paper Organization:
- The paper must include an introduction, several distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
- The introduction must address the time, place, and topic you are writing about. Your introduction should include a thesis statement that states your argument for the essay, and an overview of how you will organize your thoughts and sources.
- The body paragraphs should organize around the main idea included the topic sentence. The following sentences should refer to evidence to support that main idea.
- The conclusion should summarize the essay’s ideas and suggest connections to course themes.
Citations:
- Please Refer to the Writing Guides to use the appropriate format (Chicago, MLA, APA)
– Or, list the last name of the author and then the page number in parenthesis: (Gomez, 2)
– YOU ARE ONLY USING GAINES, AFRICAN AMERICANS IN GHANA for this assignment
